The country is already facing alarming number of accidents and to grant further concessions in provisions of safety features will then be suicidal, said KK Kapila, chairman, IRF.New Delhi:International Road Federation, Geneva-based global body working for better and safer roads worldwide, has urged the government to immediately replace the single and double cylinder naturally aspirated (NA) diesel engine technology for transportation of passengers and goods for last mile connectivity with e-vehicles .

“India is a unique country, which had been using single and double cylinder diesel technology for transportation of passengers and goods. These type of technologies were used globally mostly for water pumping from ground or for boat rides,” said KK Kapila, chairman, International Road Federation.

“In India, single cylinder engines are used in three-wheelers for carrying passengers and goods. It got extended to four-wheelers in the shape of two cylinders for a bit higher capacity around 1500 kg,” he added.

“The one and double cylinder technology application has also got extended to personal vehicles e.g. quadracycles. At the same time, these category of vehicles are designed in such a way that they can be overloaded and most of the time though they are registered for a much lower capacity.”

“”They are the main source of pollution in the urban environment. Bharat stage III, IV or VI emission norms for such category of vehicles are merely a paper exercise for approval purposes, as they are miserably abused in the field. Industry normally gives the excuse of enforcement of law on ground. Three wheelers, which are approved for three passengers carry 10-15 people is a common sight in urban environment, including the NCR, which adds to air and noise pollution,” he further added.

“Same is the case for four wheelers transport vehicles. It was thought that introduction of tighter norms will act as disruption to technology. But industry finds its way and is now lobbying those Bharat Stage VI norms for such vehicles be shifted to 2022 from 2020, in the hope that political scenario may change by that time and they will push the same vehicle for much longer time, though against the policy when entire nation is moving towards smart city and electric mobility,” he said.

Single and double cylinder lobby is also at work to exempt such four wheelers from ABS, airbag and crash norms, etc. ABS and airbag/crash technologies must not be compromised. The country is already facing alarming number of accidents and to grant further concessions in provisions of safety features will then be suicidal, he said.

“This year, the Auto Expo has put on display a large number of e-mobility products in this category of vehicles -- both in passenger and goods transport sector with larger number of variants. It is high time, the government should push its agenda for e-mobility in this segment, as the first alternative since the technology, has already matured. To start with, this should be made mandatory in metros, including the NCR, where emission is the main concern affecting the air quality,” he said.

​​This comes as a surprise to the industry as Rakesh was recently elevated to the position of Directo Sales and Marketing which was the third promotion for him in six years of his tenure in the company.